???

“Are you seriously sleeping when you have a patient?” I heard a soft yet irritated voice, I had opened my eyes and beside me was a woman with ginger hair, she wore a lab coat, or perhaps in this case it’s a doctor’s overcoat. “We have the symptoms and are currently running a biopsy and then an MRI. So, how was your nap?”

I had a file filled with documents thrown at me, when I sat up I noticed that I wasn’t in anywhere I had recollection of. I myself was wearing a doctor’s overcoat and some casual clothes underneath. Without any response to the girl I gingerly looked at the file.

“Swollen glands, abdominal pain and a loss of movement beyond the elbow...” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. “Check for HIV, full-blood test and start treatment with isoniazid and rifampicin for twelve months along with pyrazinamide and ethambutol for two months.”

“We haven’t even begun the diagnosis and you’re already saying it’s TB?” She complained. For some reason I don’t know her name, but this woman is familiar. “If we give her the drugs without knowing if it is she’ll suffer from nerve damage and even damage their vision. We can’t do that!”

“You’re right, check for any sign of infection around the pericardium, meanwhile start treatment with prednisolone as well.” I put the file aside and resume to lie down. “If you’re worried then test her vision beforehand and supplements of pyridoxine to reduce the risk.”

“Extra-Pulmonary? Really? Are you trying to kill them?” She picked up the file and gave a look of frustration towards me.

“Nope, that’s the TB. Are you trying to kill her?” I retorted. “Four months actually, I’m feeling lucky.”

I heard her groan and storm off, however I just resumed my nap.

“She’s woken up, Otohime!” Aladdin spoke, I rubbed my head in confusion and looked around. From the table filled with medical supplies and the bed with a curtain around it, I think I’m in some form of hospital. Then again, wasn’t I in one a few moments ago? Actually, my name is... Aokiji? Nope! That’s a man’s name. It’s... Luffy? Nope, another man’s name. It’s... Maris! There we go, finally got there.

Upon me re-discovering my name a group of people had approached me, one was the man I had finally recalled, Aokiji! The others was the fish-men queen, Otohime and her family!

“My, my, you caused quite the commotion when you suddenly fainted.” Aokiji commented, however that didn’t jog my memory in the slightest. When did I faint?

“I did? I don’t remember.” I mumbled, looking around. “My memory will return in a while, Aokiji fill me in on what happened meanwhile.”

“Oh, okay.” Aokiji coughed and cleared his throat. “We were walking down the plaza and heading up towards the palace, I don’t exactly recall what happened but you were deep in thought. While on our way, you began developing a fever from what I can tell and you seemed quite fatigued and caught my attention by poking me. Although you weren’t clear on what happened to you, you did say: don’t let the tourniquet stay on the queen for longer than an hour and forty minutes. Then you fainted, we brought you here and you were asleep for a day.”

“Oh, I see. Did you get treated then?” I looked towards Otohime who nodded with a smile and approached me even further.

“I did, I thank you again for your method of prevention.” It feels much easier to have a conversation with her now that I know her name. “I wish to discuss a topic which you may be familiar with, when you’re feeling better of course.”

“Ah, that’s cool. What do you want to talk about?” I just had a gap in my memory, there wasn’t any other big issues that I had.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’ve been trying to get the people of this island to accept integration with the inhabitants above sea and vice versa. It’s been quite difficult and the arrival of the Celestial Dragon didn’t make things easy...” she did have a bit of anxiety in her words, although she did speak confidently. “However, your arrival included appeared to stir things up. It’s only been a day and the people seem to have mixed feelings about humans already. A minority already seem to think that humans are no different than fish-men. I was wondering if a woman such as yourself would aid me in my efforts.”

Oh... so she wants me to become a civil rights activist essentially? Well, I guess it will be the first step to changing things!

“Oh, you made a mistake.” Aokiji spoke out, pointing towards me. “She’s only a child, nine years old at that.”

“She’s... nine? Only a child?” I suppose she thought I was older because I was in the marines and already an Ensign. “I apologise, I didn’t know that.”

“It doesn’t really matter, there’s one question I have...” I was feeling quite alright and since there wasn’t any obvious symptoms of anything I decided to get out of bed. “The Celestial Dragon, he alive?”

“He is doing fine. I was told it would take a few weeks for him to recover.” I looked towards my left, another fish-man standing there, although differing from the queen’s family he appeared to lack the confidence to speak up. Oh, the big guy isn’t here... what was his name... Neptune! No wonder they’re so quiet. Then who is the other guy? He’s quite blue and plump from what I see.

“You’re... Kizaru?” I queried, Aokiji sighed and the fish-man just shook his head. Was I really that far off target?

“I’m Jinbe, a pleasure to meet you.” He introduced himself, even bowing. I remember who he is! The Shichibukai of the island where only fish-men are allowed and no men can enter! Actually... that doesn’t sound right.

“Aokiji, is he the fish-man empress?” I didn’t take notice of the oddities of my own words, I guess I hit my head really hard.

“Uh... no. You’re confusing him with Boa Hancock, aren’t you? You’re right in that he’s a Shichibukai, but he’s not even a woman, nor an emperor.” Aokiji explained, he had his usual lazy tone in his response. I didn’t think I was that far off!

“Ah, you’re right! Sorry, I got confused there.” I scratched my head and tried to gather my thoughts. “I’m Maris, Monkey D. Maris, a pleasure to meet you as well.”

“Ah, I see, so you’re the little girl who caused the commotion yesterday. I watched it myself and I was taken aback by what you said...” he definitely had a wise tone which was more prominent in person than in the anime. “I over-heard your discussion with Queen Otohime and I wish to discuss something in private with the girl before you begin.”

A lot of important people want to talk to me, and here I thought I’d just be called a little girl and be told to let the adults deal with it.

“If it’s regarding the epitaph yesterday that she said, then I would like to join in on your private conversation. She is my student after all.” Aokiji dropped in, I suppose this was the only reliability he will ever show.

A/N

Square-Well: Okay, so it’s a Thursday, I should prepare for my college induction day next Monday!

-Sunday-

Square-Well: Haven’t done shit and I haven’t even written on RoyalRoad. Ah well, I’ll get some sleep and head to my induction day and write on Tuesday.

-Monday-

Square-Well: Wait, what the hell is wrong with this induction timetable? It’s only meant to be one day! That’s why it’s called induction day! I have three damn days of induction? Damn it, I won’t be able to write until Thursday!

-Wednesday-

Square-Well: I don’t have to go to school because I finished everything on Tuesday! Whoo! Let’s see... what time is it...? Four in the evening? Crap. Well, I’d better do something to pass the time... time to play random apps.

-Thursday-

Square-Well: I’m now writing about how I didn’t post for the entire week because of my induction days and my general lackadaisical approach to why I didn’t post. Wow, so meta.

Not really, anyway, I apologise! I did start the chapter last week, in fact I started it on Thursday last week and then got bored and did random crap until Sunday and for Monday and Tuesday I went to a college induction day and Wednesday I got bored so I did nothing...

Then here’s now!